Earthquake Preparation Guide: How To Secure Wall Paintings

When preparing a home for a natural disaster such as an earthquake, all of the focus can go towards furniture and fittings. Obscure items such as wall paintings are often overlooked, but these must be properly secured to prevent damage and stop them from becoming an unnecessary hazard.

Step 1: Size and Weight

Walk around the house and find where all your wall paintings hang. Work out the rough size and weight of each picture and make a record. For heavier paintings, larger anchors and screws will be needed. Information on the anchor box will say which drill bit to use when it is time to drill the holes. The first step is the most important, because using the wrong drill bit, anchor or screw may lead to the painting falling off or becoming loose. 

Take the paintings off the wall.

Step 2: Mark Walls

Make a small mark behind each picture where the new screw will be inserted. Make sure the mark is in roughly the same position as where the painting hung before. 

Step 3: Drill Holes

Put on the safety gloves and goggles and start to drill the holes. Over-compensate, because the anchor will expand once it has been inserted into the wall. Once holes have been drilled for all of the pictures, this equipment can be put away. Be accurate because if the hole is drilled at a slight angle, the picture will not hang firmly. 

Step 4: Anchor and Screw

Place an anchor into each hole that has been formed and place a screw inside the anchor. For a larger picture, make sure a bigger screw is used. Leave enough room at the end of the screw for each picture to hang properly and securely. Roughly one inch is advised, but simply enough room for the picture to hang will do. This is an important step because if the wrong anchor or screw is used, the picture may slide or fall off, creating a hazard. 

Step 5: Hang the Paintings

There should now be a new mounted screw for each picture to hang on. Fit the picture onto the screw using the fitting that will already be on the back of the picture. Make sure the pictures hang tightly and virtually stick to the wall. If the paintings are loose or rock about, it means the wrong screw or anchor has been used. If this is the case, take the screw and anchor out and start again. Make sure all pictures are hanging level. 

Tip

A small blob of earthquake gel or putty on the rear of each picture can also help to stabilise the piece, in addition to the wall fixings being used.